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High Precision Orbits of Binary StarsLarry Wasserman and Otto Franz

Larry Wasserman

Larry Wasserman, in collaboration with Lowell astronomer Otto Franz, applies his interest in ephemeris calculation to the orbits of relatively close (less than a few tenths of an arcsec), low-mass binary stars. Here, the Lowell Observatory colleagues are interested in obtaining accurate masses of low-mass stars. The binaries are observed with the Fine Guidance Sensor on HST which enables them to measure the separation of the binary to a precison of about milliarcsec and the position angle to a precision of 0.1 deg, even for stars with a difference in brightness of several magnitudes.